The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-03
THE ACADIANS.

THE ACADiANS.
If the Acadians can anywhere be
seen in the prosperity of their rimi-
tive simplicity, | fancy it is in the par
ish of Vermlion, in the vicinity of
| Abbevillc and on the Bayou Tigre,
| Here, among the intricate bayous that
are their highways and supply them
with the poorer sort of fish, and the
fair meadows on which their cattle pas
everything that simple habits require,
they have for over century enjoyed
quiet existence, practically undisturb-
ed by the agitations of modern life.
ignorant of its progress. History
makes their departure from the COM
paratiyely bleak meadows of Grand
Pre- cruel hardship, if II political ne
cessity But they made very FORUM
ate exchange. Nowhere else on the
continent could they SO well, have pre-
served their primitive habits, or found
climate and soil so suited to their
humor. Others have cxhaustiFely set
forth the history and idiosyncrasies of
this peculiar people; it is in my way
only to tell what l saw on II spring
day.
To reach the heart of this abode of
contented and perhaps wise ignorance
we took boats early one morning at Pc
tite Anse Island, while the dew was
still heavy and the birds were at mat
ins, and rowed down the Petite Anse
Bayou. 4 stranger would surely be
lost in these winding, branching, inter-
lacing streams. Evangeline and her
lover might have passed each othep Hn-
known within hail across these marsh
es. The party of dozen people occu-
pied two row-boats. Among them
were gentlemen who knew the route.
but the reserve of wisdom as to what
bayous and cut-0tis were naviSable
was an ancient eX-slave, now voter,
who responded to the name of Hon
orable "a weather-beaten and wealth.
er-Wise darky, a redOubtable fisherman,
whose memory extended away beyond
the war, and played familh,rly about
the person of Lafay cite. With whom he
had been on agreeable terms in Char
lesion, and who dated his narratives,
to our relief. not from the war. but
from the wear of some great sickness
Oh the coast From the Petite Anse
we entered The Carlin Bayou, and
wound through it is needless to say
what others in our tortuous course. In
the fresh morning, with the salt air,
it was voyage of delight. Mullet
were jumping in the CLASSY stream,
perhaps disturbed by the gar-tish, and
alligators lazily slid from the reedy
banks into Inc water at our approach
All the marsh was gay with flowers,
vast patches of the blue fear-tte-ttS in-
termingled with the exquisite white
spider-lily, nodding in clusters on long
stalks; an alnaryllis Cpancratium), its
pure half-disk fringed with delicate
white tilaments, The air was vocal
with the notes of birds. the nonpareil
and the meadow-lark, and most con-
spicuous of all the handsome boat-tail
grackle, blackbird, which alighted
on the slender dead reeds that swayed
with his weight as he poured forth his
song. Sometimes the bayou narrowed
so that it was impossible to row with
the oars, and polling was resorted to,
and the current was swift and strong.
At such passes we saw only the banks
| with nodding flowers, and the reeds,
with the blackbirds Staging against the
sky. Again we emerged into placid
reaches overhung by gigantic liTe-oaks
and fringed with cypress. 1t was en-
i chanting, But the way was not quite
solitary. Numerous fishing parties
were encountered, boats on their way
to the bay, and now and then party
of stalwart men drawing net in the
bayou, their clothes being deposited on
] the banks. Occasionally Il large
schooner was seen, tied to the bank or
slowly working its way, and on one a
whole family was domesticated. There
is Il good deal of queer life hidden in
| these bayous.
We presently entered the inhabited
part of the bayou, among cultivated
fields, and made our first call on the
Thibodeaux. They had been expect
in" us, and Andonia came down to the
landing to welcome us, and with Il for
NAL, pretty courtesy led the way to che
house. Does the reader happen to re-
member, say in New England. say fifty
years ago, the sweetest maiden lady in
the village, prim, staid, full of kind
ness, the proportions OF lHe inquire
never quite developed, with u row OF
small corkscrew curls about her serene
forehead, and all the juices of life that
might have overhowed into the life of
others somehow withered into the
sweetness of her wistful face? Yes; a
little timid and appealing, and yet
trustful, and in a scant, quaint gown!
Well. AndOnia was never married, md
she had such curls, and Il high-waisteG
gown, and kerchief folded across her
breast And when she spoke, it was
in the language of France as it is rem
dered in Acadia. t
The house like all in this region,
stands upon blocks of wood, is in ap-
pearance u frame house, but the walls
between timbers are of concrete mixed
with moss, and the same inside as out.
1t had no glass in the windo VS., which
were closed with solid shutters. Upon
the rough walls were hung sacred pie
lures and other crudely colored prints.
The furniture was rude and apparently
homemade, and the whole interior
was as painfully neat as Dutch par
lor. Even the beams overhead and